PhilHealth giving new premium rate for NHIP members

CEBU, Philippines - Starting next year, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will be implementing a new premium rate covering all paying members of the National Health Insurance Program.

In a press release, PhilHealth public relation officer Karisma Agraviador said PhilHealth is working toward ensuring that every Filipino is assigned to and taken care of by a primary care provider and that members and qualified dependents are given the option to avail of no-balance billing healthcare services.

The PhilHealth Board also approved increases in the annual premium of members to implement enhancements in the benefit packages. Consequently, PhilHealth issued Circular 22-2011 implementing the new premium rates.

This also includes the sponsored members included in the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction list of the Department of Social Welfare and Development who will now be covered for an annual premium of P2,400 beginning January 1, 2012.

Enrolled members shall be issued PhilHealth identification cards with a two-year validity period.

Premium contributions under the partial subsidy scheme shall also be increased to P2,400 per year effective July 1, 2012. However, local government sponsors who enroll following the calendar year and pay their contribution within the first semester of 2012 will be computed an annual premium of only P1,200.

The local government units sponsors who enroll following the calendar year, pay their contribution within the first semester, commit to pay premium contribution for two consecutive years, and sign a Memorandum of Agreement to that effect will be computed an annual premium of P1,200.

Under the existing memorandums of agreement between PhilHealth and the various LGU and other sponsors will be recognized by PhilHealth until calendar year 2012.

Similarly, PhilHealth individually paying and land-based overseas Filipino worker members will now be paying an annual premium of P2,400 effective July 1, 2012.

However, if they pay premium within the first semester of 2012, their annual contribution will still be computed at P1,200. Members who sign a policy contract committing to pay premium for two consecutive years shall also be computed an annual contribution of P1,200.

Self-employed professionals earning an average monthly income of more than P25,000 shall continue to pay an annual contribution of P3,600, pursuant to PhilHealth Circular 24-2010 which took effect October 1, 2010.

For members in the employed sector, effective January 1, 2013 their premium will be computed at three percent of their basic monthly salary. The monthly salary base has now been determined at P7,000 and the ceiling at P50,000, and the minimum annual contribution will now be P2,520. The premium contribution of the employed sector shall continue to be shared equally by employees and their employers. — (FREEMAN)